A flat stomach is something we all yearn for but many of us struggle to achieve.

And while we all know that ditching alcohol and doing hundreds of sit-ups can help shift the weight around our middle, did you know that there are certain foods that will actually help you lose stomach fat?

From asparagus to cucumber, nutritionist and food author Lee Holmes recently shared the five foods to incorporate into your daily diet for a flat stomach.

She also explained why sugar-free snacks should be off your healthy tummy menu.

From asparagus to cucumber, nutritionist and food author Lee Holmes (pictured) recently shared the five foods to incorporate into your daily diet for a flat stomach

For the nutritionist, papaya is one of the best foods you can feed your gut, thanks to it being 'rich in antioxidants and fibre'.

'Papaya can help aid weight loss and even fight cellulite,' she said. It also encourages digestion, which is vital for a flat stomach.

Speaking to FEMAIL, Lee explained that your gut is the 'gateway to the health of your overall body' - and you should never eat sugar-free snacks for good digestion

Other flat belly foods

Speaking to FEMAIL, Lee explained that your gut is the 'gateway to the health of your overall body'.

'To have a healthy gut, you need to give it a rest,' Lee said.

'By consuming slow-cooked and cooked foods like bone broths, soups, curries, and adding healing spices such as turmeric and ginger your body will allow itself the time it needs to rest and digest whilst still healing and sealing the lining of the gut so you can absorb more nutrients from your food.'

'Using bone broth or veggie broths as a base to meals means you can enjoy key minerals and ingredients such as gelatine which are just as nourishing for your insides as they are for your outsides.'

However, sugar-free snacks are off the menu:

'Just because something has diet written all over it, it doesn’t make it healthy,' Lee said.

'Sugar-free sweeteners and soft drinks are not always gut friendly. Sugar-free snacking is often the culprit of many gut issues as they can aggravate the gut due to the artificial additives they contain.

'These additives and chemicals get swept up into the digestive system and end up in the colon, which is the opposite thing you want to happen when you're supercharging your gut.'

Instead, opt for fresh wholefood ingredients when you can - and drink plenty of water and herbal teas to flush out bad bacteria within the gut.

Lastly, Lee said that an instant gut pick me up comes in the form of spices, which can be added to countless foods to instantly make you feel better - put ginger in your tea, for instance

Lastly, Lee said that an instant gut pick me up comes in the form of spices, which can be added to countless foods to instantly make you feel better:

'Chilli can reduce inflammation and help with problems within the gut by reducing negative gut bacteria,' she said.

'Turmeric is another fiery spice that is rich in anti-inflammatory properties due to its high levels of curcumin. Meanwhile, curcumin can help alleviate digestive issues, ease digestion and turn our gut health from silver to gold.